A man who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were between nine and ten.
Jon Ruben was detained after eight minors and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he managed.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the situation.
The legal representative said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
